February 6th, 2025 - The Rye of Passage

 

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight rockin' and rollin' to "The Rite Of Passage", the fantastic debut by Oklahoma prog rockers Pangaea along with a crisp and delicious Sixth Anniversary Rye IPA from the fine folks at Hopkins Brewing Company in collaboration with Fisher Brewing Company!  Oh, yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Pangaea
• Title: "The Rite Of Passage"
• Recorded: July through August 1996 at Soundtek Studios in Campbell, California
• Release date: 1997 (1st studio album by Pangaea)
• Record company: HMG Records
• Production: Robert Berry; James and Andi Schneck (executive producers)
• Album cover art: Rico Schenck
• Personnel: Darrell Masingale (lead and backing vocals, and guitars), Ron Poulsen (bass guitars, bass pedals, and backing vocals), Andi Schenck (drums and percussion), and Corey Schenck (keyboards, guitars, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive rock with elements of classic rock, classical, heavy metal, and even a touch of classic country
• Sound: The powerhouse quartet's approach to song structure and execution is truly wonderful!  There are elements of their music that reminds me of Marillion, Rush, and Yes, while at other times, bands like Blue Oyster Cult, early Journey, and Styx come to mind, yet it is original and unique.  It is passionate, emotive, and honest.
• Major themes: Life, introspection, the passing of time, seeking knowledge, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Time Syndrome"
2. "The Ship (That Must Come In)"
3. "Trilogy I: Father (He Shall Add)"
   
4. "Trilogy II: Hollow Dweller (From The Valley)"
5. "Trilogy III: A Gift"
6. "The Winds (Behind The Door)"
7. "September Park"
8. "Navigator"
9. "Lonely Is A Place"
10. "Beggar's Hand"
11. "The Ship" (Nashville Mix)
12. "September Park" (Rain Mix)
13. "Navigator" (Brocken Arrow Mix)
14. "Lonely Is A Place" (April Mix)
15. "Father" (Session Mix)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Hopkins Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah) in collaboration with Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: and  http://www.fisherbeer.com//
• Brew: Sixth Anniversary Rye IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.6% 
• Ingredients: Amarillo and Mosaic hops with rye malt  
• Pour: The Sixth Anniversary Rye IPA pours a deep bronze-amber hue with a billowy and rocky, light beige, 1+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, earthy, malty, peppery and bready.  There are aromas of barley, wet pine needles, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, tangerine, freshly baked rye bread, light onion, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: The taste of the Rye In The Sky Pale Ale follows the nose with lots of hoppy, resiny, malty, peppery, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of rye bread, pine resin, tangerine, grapefruit, bready biscuit, pine, light herbs, black pepper, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and refreshing with a dry, clean, moderately bitter, peppery finish.

Overall pairing: The crushable and drinkable, yet very complex and bold flavors and aromas of the Sixth Anniversary Rye IPA is perfect for an evening of rocking out to the rockin' goodness that is Pangaea's fantastic and criminally underrated "The Rite Of Passage" album!  Those bold hop flavors are great for the soaring guitars while the malty backbone goes great with the heavy bass and drums as well as the tight musicianship and the hard rock sensibility and inventiveness. And the peppery rye flavor is a perfect foil for Masingale's warm vocals!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Pangaea bassist Ron Poulson here: https://youtu.be/YSNXL0kNBdI

Cheers!!  Rock on!!